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Guardianship

Today we discuss a strategy that is useful in case of what is likely the most devastating, worst-case scenario for many families – the unexpected and sudden death of parents or caregivers. While we hesitate to even think about it, we must consider all possibilities in estate planning so that loved ones can be left…

In the previous “Last Week in Estate Planning” entries, I placed the “Post of the Week” at the bottom as a way of building suspense. However, I have been advised that burying the lead in a blog post is perhaps imprudent. So now, the “Post of the Week” goes first, which is especially appropriate given…

“Estate Planning” is somewhat of a misnomer. For example, let’s check out The Free Dictionary’s definition of “estate”. You’ll find that the majority of the 8 provided definitions associate the term either with land or with some kind wealth, social position, or political power. Read more...

According to the law of averages, approximately 1 in 500 people in the United States who are aged 25-44 will die this year. In other words, 499 out of every 500 in this group will be around in 2012. So why on earth do estate planning attorneys, financial planners, insurance salesmen, etc. recommend that anyone…

Image via Wikipedia For some reason, I am friendly with lots of women. Perhaps it is due to the influence of my tough mother and two strong older sisters, or that I followed Benjamin Franklin’s advice to marry someone smarter than me. However, this does not mean that I fully understand how women function. Read…

Making the rounds in the news lately is the fact that Elizabeth Edwards, who passed away this past December 7, has seemingly disinherited former Presidential candidate and husband John Edwards by not including him in her will. Inside Edition has released the will, signed six days before Ms. Edwards’ death. Read more...

What will happen to your kids, elderly parents or other dependents if some emergency situation arose? Does your estate plan cover these situations? As we have discussed in many posts, estate planning is not limited to passing your property after death. We have often referred to Ancillary Documents such as “Durable Powers of Attorney”, “Advance…

I am a life-long Phillies fan. Imagine my pure delight when I heard that on Monday, elite pitcher Cliff Lee signed a 5-year, $120 million deal (plus a potential 6th if he reaches certain goals) with my phavorite team to help shepherd in a new era of excellence. For more information, type “Cliff Lee” into…

As we all know, many films do not take the time to peruse the estate planning effects caused by its characters and events. I found that “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part I”, released Friday, was a fine exception. In fact, it was the earliest that a film introduced estate planning topics since “Death…

I had the misfortune of hearing a dreadful story over the weekend. It is a fine example of how emotions can run quite high in the weeks leading to death if no estate plan is established, and how the survivors are left to solve complex issues that will have an impact for generations. Read more...